Ben Becker: Honda Classic becoming an elite event

The Honda Classic is on the fast track to becoming an elite event on the PGA Tour. For the second year in a row, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are gracing the event and leading a field that features four of the top six players in the world. (Saturday and Sunday 3-6 p.m. NBC)

“Spotlight” coverage allows viewers a chance to see how some of the best in the game fare through the three-hole gauntlet. According to NBC Sports Group, Golf Channel will undertake an entirely separate production for its telecast of “The Bear Trap,” utilizing its own equipment, crew and commentators.

Throughout the week, Golf Channel will be gathering player reaction to “The Bear Trap,” and will roll those interviews into the telecast, as well as video of past, dramatic moments. The coverage also will feature graphics and statistics exclusive to playing “The Bear Trap,” past and present.

If last year is any indication, the presence of Woods should once again boost ratings. Final round coverage in 2012, which featured Woods shooting a scintillating 62, was up 78 percent.

WINNER'S LANE

Danica Patrick didn’t win the Daytona 500, but she fueled the best ratings for the event in seven years - up 24 percent from last year and 14 percent in 2011.

Patrick, the first woman to win the pole for any NASCAR event, also became the first woman to ever lead the Daytona 500 and was in contention to the very end before fading to 8th place.

But the story from the weekend, was the crash during Saturday’s Nationwide Race that sent 14 fans to the hospital after a tire and car engine came untethered and flew into the stands.

NASCAR felt the wrath of social media, after blocking fan video of the crash on YouTube, by claiming a copyright violation.

Following charges of censorship, YouTube reversed course by saying “our partners and users do not have the right to take down videos from YouTube unless they contain content which is copyright infringing, which is why we have reinstated the videos.”

What’s fascinating is that NASCAR tickets do include a claim over photographs and videos captured by spectators during the event. But fact is, facts can not be copyrighted.

Heat at Knicks (1 p.m. ABC): The Heat are red hot thanks to LeBron James. The three-time MVP is scoring more than 28 points per game and shooting well over 60 percent from the field in the last month. James will have something to prove here, as the Knicks can boast a 2-0 record against the Heat this year.

Phoenix 500 (3 p.m. FOX): Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson has won four times at this track.